Countercurrent condenser



NOV. 27, 1934. H, E BYER 1,981,989

COUNTERCURRENT CoNDENsER Filed NOV. 15, 1932 FIGA.

ATTORNE Patented` Nov. 27, i934 -UNirED srArss PATENT OFFICE ApplicationNovember 15, 1932, Serial No. 642,729

14 Claims. (Cl. 261-117) This invention relates to condensers of thecounter-current type forsteam or other vapor laden gases, although notso limited.

In the class of mechanical equipment as above described, ,the watersheet forthe initial Water distributing pass heretofore universallyused, is in the nature of a hollow cone of water the base circumferenceof which` is represented by the weir diameter above, with the apex ofthe cone resting on the baffle immediately below the Weir. With thisconstruction, the sheet of water becomes thicker at the apex, resultingin the effective cooling and scrubbing area being much reduced andlimited to the thinner part, as regards the water cone thickness,existing in the upper part close to the weir circumference and furthercausing an excessive pressure drop in connection with the gases passingthrough the sheet, taking the surface as a whole.

Commercial requirements call for an eXtremely small pressure dropthrough this sheet coupled with efficient cooling of the gases passingthrough it and for the use'of theminimum diameter of Weir; whereas thework to be performed calls for a much larger initial surface of watersheet than is possible to obtain by the use of such a hollow invertedcone of Water, as described.

It is an object of the present invention to providea condenser in whichthe entering cooling water, falling as an initial sheet, aifords anefficiency, greater than heretofore, in the cooling, condensing and/ orscrubbing action at that point. In Icarryingthe invention into effect,the sheet f falling water is caused to take substantially the form of atruncated cone as distinguished from prior practice in which the fallingsheet of water takes the form, substantially, of an inverted cone.Assuming an equivalent weir diameter and the same height of water fall,the surface of a truncated cone has just about doublek the. surface ofan inverted cone formed with the same diameter of weir as its base.`

` It is also an object-of the invention to provide a condenser in whichthe cooling water falling as a sheet affords only a very small pressuredrop in the gases passing therethrough. Accordingly, a weir is providedfrom which the water falls as a sheet in substantially the shape of atruncated cone whereby the falling sheet of water becomes thinner as itfalls. i

i For high vacuumv work where it is desired `to carry, say, 29.7 vacuumat the steam nozzle, it will be readily seen that the less pressuredropl there is between the nozzle and the vacuum pump suction outlet,the smaller size vacuum pump will be required. As an example, consideredon an isothermal compression basis, 29.7" of vacuum corresponds to anexpansion of 100 and 29.8 oi vacuum corresponds to an expansion of 150as regards the volume of air to be handled by the vacuum pump. Byemploying a falling water sheet in the form of a truncated cone, it ispossible to obtain so slight a pressure drop between thesteam nozzle andthe vacuum pump suction nozzle or outlet as to result in a pressure of29.71 at the vacuum pump suction nozzle or a pressure drop of .01. Withall previous designs and particularly with a weirv formation producing afalling sheet of water in the shape of an inverted cone, the pressuredrop would be represented by .1 requiring that the vacuum pump maintain29.8 of vacuum at the vacuum pump suction outlet and corresponding to anexpansion of 150 as regards isothermal basis. In the commercial sense itwould take a much smaller size vacuum pump with corresponding reductionin operating expense, to maintaina vacuum of 29.71 than for a `vacuum of29.8".- The advantage of the Water distribution with respect to theinitial water sheets as contemplated by this invention is, therefore,apparent.

To obtain the desired truncated cone shaped sheet of cooling water in apractical manner, howeveryis not easy. A concentric weir with circularedge, with Water admitted to it through a` pipe feeding water or liquidfrom the top, sets up a surging in the Weir so that it is impossible toobtain an even flow of Water over the edge. This results from the highvelocity of enteringy Water resulting from the high velocity of waterflow employed in the injection pipe and it is necessary to employ such ahigh velocity of water inthe injection piping for commercial reasons,while an unbroken even now of water spilling over the edge of they Weiris required for correct results.

Still another object of the invention is, therefore, to provide an even,steady llow of water over the edge of a Weir. Accordingly, water isadmitted from the side below the level of the Water therein, whereby thebody of water in the Weir will retard the velocity of entering liquidand act in the nature of a buffer thereto. In carrying the inventioninto effect, a substantially concentric Weir is supported from thecasing as an open channel and the water or liquid then spills overthecombined edges of the Weir. The total linear edge thus afforded issomewhat greater than the circumference of the Weir treated as a truecircle, this additional length being an advantage. The water or liquidentering the weir and spilling over its edges will form a fan-shapedwater contour corresponding to sections of a truncated cone and havingthe great advantage that the water sheet becomes thinner at the bottomof its fall.

The invention also seeks a condenser in which the rising gas flow iscooled by contacting with the cooler surfaces of the weir'. To this end,the path taken by the gases between the inlet and outlet bring them indirect contact with those surfaces of the Weir which are cooled by thebody of water carried thereby.

Yet another object of the invention is a construction of condenser orthe like which is practical from the standpoint of manufacture and use.I

These and other objects of the invention and the means for theirattainment will be more apparent from the following detaileddescription, taken in connection with the accompanying drawingillustrating a preferred embodiment thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a View lshowing in vertical central section, a condenser inkaccordance with this invention;

Figure 2fis a view in transverse section taken in the plane indicated bythe line 2-2 of Figure 1 and locking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a View, in transverse section, taken in the plane indicatedby the line 3-3 of Figure l, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 4 is a view in transverse section taken in the plane indicated bythe line 4 4 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

While the invention is applicable to many uses, there is illustrated inthe drawing a coun ter-current steam condenser comprising a casing orshell, conveniently formed in sections 6, 7 and 8, preferablycylindrical, having a water inlet 11, conveniently in the section '7.

Near the bottom isa steam inlet 12 below the water inlet andconveniently in the section 6. An air outlet pipe 13 is arranged in thetop of the casing in the section 8 and a hot water discharge opening 14is formed at the bottom of the shell.

As shown,y the inlet 12 takes the form of a pipe `of substantially elbowshape entering'the shell through an opening 17 in the side thereof andturned downwardly so that the mouth faces downwardly in the axis of theshell. Obviously, other known means of delivering the steam at the axisof the shell below the Water baiile may be equally well availed of.

For convenience, the upper section 8' of the condenser is connected toan intermediate shell vsection 7, as by the iianges 15. The sections 6and 7 are joined by the anges 16. The steam inlet pipe 12 enters thebottom shell section 6 through a flanged opening 17 to which the pipe 12may be secured, as by the flanges 18.

Within the casing and adjacent to the water inlet 11 is a weir 20-24 ofspecial shape, vforming a reservoir for the incoming water. The weir issubstantially rectangular in cross-section with vertical sides 20 andaiiat bottom 21. It is conveniently cast integral with the intermediatecasing section 'l and is of substantially the height of that sectionalthough not necessarily so. The axis of the trough lies in a diameterof the casing section 'l and extends from side to side. At its midpoint22,` the weir is of greatest diameter, gradually narrowing in width tothe ends and the free upper edge of the walls 20, over which the waterflows, is bevelled, as at 24, to form, in effect, deflecting means alongthe weir walls at their top edges so as to slant away from the centerline and toward the outer casing of the condenser, thereby giving aninitial direction to the water flowing thereover.

Water is introduced near the bottom of the Weir by the hole l1 openinginto one end of the trough. A similar hole 26 is formed at the otherend, closed by a cover 27. By removing this cover, sediment deposited inthe bottom of the trough may be readily flushed out by a stream of waterentering through the water inlet 11.

It is sought by means of the weir 20-24 to de-Y liver a curtain or sheetof water of substantially truste-conical shape, which, because of theincreased diameter at the lower end, becomes thinner and ailords anincreased surface area for contacting with the upwardly flowing hotgases and permits their flow therethrough with less pressure drop thanwould be the case if the sheet of water were thicker. It has been foundthat if a circular weir is disposed at this point in the condensershell, a sheet of water in the form of a true frustum of a cone will beaiforded and that such a circular weir may be supported from the sidewalls of the shell, as by a water inlet, for instance. The weir shown inplan in Figure 2 has the proportions and relations just indicated but,for convenience, the sides have been straightened out slightly so as toavoid the angle which would be formed between a peripheral edge of acircular weir and the radialwater entering trough, which angle wouldresult in a thickening of the over-flowing water at that point. It isthus trough-shaped and widest at its midpoint and it tapers gradually inwidth to the sides of the condenser. The water from the weir thus fallsin substantially the shape of a truncated cone, although interrupted atdiametrically opposite points where the weir is joined to the shell.Thus two, what may be called fan-shaped sheets or curtains of water fallfrom the Weir becoming wider and thinner as they fall.

Below the weir 20-24 is van annular Weir or basin 29, 30. This weir 29is conveniently cast integral with the shell section 6 and has, forconvenience, downwardly sloping bottom wall 29 and a vertical Ainnerwall 30 over which the water spills. The annular weir 29-30 is disposedbelow the point at which the falling ian shaped curtains `of water 25fallinggfrom the Weir 20-24 strikes the wall of the shell.v v Thisfalling water accumulates in the basin 29-30 and over-flows and fallsdownwardly through the central circular gas passage 31 in the shape of acontinuous sheet of water 32 having the form of an inverted cone whichstrikes-upon a baffle 34, the upper surface of which is curvilinear inall directionsA and may be likened somewhat to an umbrella.

This baille 34 may conveniently be supported by a web 36 from the steaminlet pipe 12. Its transverse diameter is substantially equal to thetransverse diameter of the ilow passage 31l and is disposedsubstantially in the center of the shell. The water falling thereon fromthe annular Weir 29--30 falls from the periphery thereof in an unbrokensheet 33 of substantially frustoconical form completelysurrounding thesteam inlety mouth 12 and striking the wall of the shell at a point nearits bottom from which the water flows, as will be understood, throughthe water discharge opening 1.4. i

The three shell sections, 7 and 8 may be readilyformed` of cast metaL.flanged, `where they '5 13 with its integral baffle 34. is also easilyjoin, for easy connection. The manufacture of this condenser is thusextremely simple, involv` ing only machining operations at the pointswhere the flanges come together. Thestearrr inlet pipe n manufactured asa simple casting.

In the operation of this condenser the cold water overiiows the `tworims of the weir in two fan-like sheets 25, the hydraulic iiow beingdirected by suitable `means along the Weir walls and at their top edges,so as to slant away from the center line and toward the outer casing ofthe condenser, as shown by dash lines, Figure 1. The two water sheetsthus formed are of equal weight and thickness, each sheet being thickestat the top and thinning at the bottom, forming an effective waterblanket through which the air and uncondensible gases pass with minimumpressure drop for iinal cooling before reaching the outlet nozzle in thetop of the casing above the welr. The two water sheets owing over therims of the Weir 20-24 fall onto the collecting basing 29-30 below it,where the total weight of water represented by the two above mentionedsheets collect to form a pool around a concentric opening through whichthe water falls in a concentric and unbroken sheet of Water 32 onto theumbrella Vbaille 34 located vdirectly below, said umbrella bailledischarging thecondensing water into thev steam space below it in theform of an enveloping water umbrella or sheet 33, which completelysurrounds they entering steam, where it is acted upon, the condensedsteam and hot water flowing away through the hot water discharge pipe 14below.

` The construction provided remedies the defects inherent in allcounter-current condensers as heretofore constructed, to wit,insuiiicient cooling of the air and non-condensible gases, unless by theexcessive use of cooling water, which in turn results in excessivepressure drop due to the choking of the air passageways by the excessive`amounts of cooling water.

The construction as provided directs the ascending air and uncondensiblegas stream against the bottom and side walls" of the Weir, which arecooled by the water contained therein, and by so impinging, materiallyhelps the cooling action and thereby reduces the volume of the gasesbefore the latter pass through the fanjshaped water sheets 25 flowingover the rims of the weir above. It is in thisrespect that the weirconstruction differs from all others heretoffore constructed. Heretoforeweirs have spilled Vthe cooling water over a concentric rim, so that theair and uncondensible gases passing through the water sheet so formedflow directly into the space above the water weir, without anyprecooling by contact with the sides of the weir. By the construction ofthis' invention, the space directly above the collecting basin and belowthe waterweir issurrounded on all sides by cold water and cold surfaces,making the air cooling action certain and positive, and with economy .inthe amount of cooling water employed, and

resulting in minimum pressure dropwith respect to the air andnon-condensible gases passing therethrough, due to the fact that thelarge volume and opening provided does not choke up with the water.

Various modiiications will occur to those skilled in the art in thecomposition, coniiguration and disposition of the component elementsgoing to make up the invention as a whole as well as the selection and'combination of' the respective eiementsin a device embodying thecounter-current flow of liquids and gases and no limitation is intendedby the phraseology of the foregoing description or illustrations in theaccompanyingv drawing, exceptl as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:-

l. A countercurrent condenser comprising, the combination with a casinghaving a gas outlet, a water inlet therebelow, a steam inlet near thebottom and a liquid outlet at the bottom, of a Weir whereof the edgesextend between spaced points ondthe casing wall to deliver the waterfrom the inlet, in at least two convex sheets each in contact at itssides with the casing wall and outwardly and downwardly intocontact withthe casing wall.

2. A countercurrent condenser comprising, the combination with a casinghaving a gas outlet, a water inlet therebelow, a steam inlet near thebottom and a liquid outlet at the bottom, oi' a weir whereof the edgesextend between spaced points on the casing wall to deliver the waterfrom the inlet in at least two convex sheets each in Contact at itssides with the casing wall each of the same weight and relativethickness, and outwardly and downwardly into contact with the casingwall.

3. A countercurrent condenser comprising, the combination with a casinghaving a gas outlet, a

'water inlet therebelcw, a steam inlet near the bottom and a liquidoutlet at the bottom, of a weir having an edge which is above the waterinlet to deliver the water from the inlet in at least two convex sheetseach in contact at its sides' with the casing wall and outwardly anddownwardly into contact with the casing wall.

4. A countercurrent condenser comprising, the combination with a casinghaving agas outlet, a water inlet therebelow, a steam inlet nearA thebottom and a liquid outlet at the bottom, o a trough shaped Weir whereofthe edges each extend between spaced points on the casing wall todeliver the water from the inlet over said edges in two convex sheets,outwardly and downwardly into contact with the `casing wall.

5. A countercurrent condenser comprising, the combination with acasinghaving a gas outlet, a water inlet therebelow, a steam inlet nearthe bottom and a liquid outlet at the bottom, of a trough shaped weirwhereof the edges each extend between spaced points on the casing wallto deliver the water from the inlet over said edges in two convexsheets, outwardy and downwardly into contact with the casing wall and anannular weir to receive all of said water and deliver it over its inneredge in a continuous sheet of water of substantially inverted conicalform.

6. A countercurrent condenser comprising, the combination with a casinghaving a gas outlet, a water inlet therebelow, a steam inlet near thebottom and a liquid outlet at the bottom, of a trough shaped weirwhereof the edges each extend between spaced points on the casing wallto deliver the water from the inlet in two convex sheets, outwardly anddownwardly into contact l 'downwardly toward the casing wall, and meansWater inlet therebelow, a steaminlet near the bottomand a liquid outletat the bottom, of a trough shaped Weir to deliver the water from theinlet in two substantially fan-shaped sheets, outwardly and downwardlytoward lthe casing wall,

an annular Weir to receive all of said water and deliver it over itsinner edge in a continuous sheet o1 water of substantiallyv invertedconicaly formy casing wall completely blanket-ing the gas passage andmeans centrally disposed in the casing below said first named means toreceive all of said Water and discharge it into the space therebelow.

9. A countercurrent condenser comprising, the

combination with a casing having a gas outlet, a

Water inlet therebelow, a steam inlet near the bottom and a liquidoutlet at the bottom, of means to deliver the water from the inlet in atleast two substantially fan-shaped sheets, outwardly and to receive allof said water and deliver it in a continuous sheet of water ofsubstantially inverted conical form and means to introduce the steam.within the last named sheet of water to impinge thereagainst.

10. In a countercurrent condenser, a casing having an opening for steamor Vapor, an opening near its top for the escape of air` andnon-condensible gases and an opening therebetween for the admission ofliquid, means for directing the liquid through the casing to form anumbrella shaped sheet of water adjacent the steam inlet, means to admitthe injection water in the form of two fan-shaped sheets of equal weightand thickness spanning the center line diameter of the casing andflowing outwards towards the casing at a point above the steam inlet,whereby the steam will be condensed against the under side of the waterumbrella and the air and noncondensible. gases cooled by passage throughthe two fan-shaped water sheets on the way tothe air outlet.

11. In a countercurrent condenser, in combination, a shell having a gasoutlet, a water inlet therebeloW, a steam inlet near the bottom and awater outlet at the bottoma troughshaped weir substantially rectangularin cross-section oi greatest Width at a point substantially midwaybetween its ends and decreasing in width gradually` to the ends thereofand means to introduce water thereinto for overow therefrom.

12. In a countercurrent condenser, in combina-- tion, a shell having anoutlet for gas, a water inlet therebelow, a steam inlet near the bottom,a water outlet at the bottom, a trough shaped Weir extendingsubstantially diametrically across' the` shell and means to introducewater a substantial distance below the edge of the weir. v f

13. In a countercurrent condenser, a casing having an opening for steamor vapor, an opening near its top for the escape of air andnon-condensible gasesand an opening therebetween for.

the'admissionof liquidmeans for directing the liquid through the casingto form an umbrella shaped sheet of water adjacent the steam inlet, aweir to admit the injection water in the form of two fan-shaped sheetsof equal weight andlthicliness spanning the center line4 diameter of thecasing and flowing outwards towards the casing at a point above thesteam inlet, whereby the steam will be condensed against the under sideofthe Water umbrellaandthe airand non-condensible gases cooled byContact with the weir and passage through the two fan-shaped watersheets on the way to the air outlet.

14. A countercurrent condenser comprising, the combination with a casinghaving a gas outlet, a water inlet therebelow anda liquid outlet at thebottom, of a trough shaped Weir to deliver water from the inlet in twosubstantially fan-shaped sheets, outwardly and downwardly toward thecasing wall, a second weir receiving saidwater, an umbrella shapedbaiile to. receive water from said second weir and deliver it downwardlyin a sheet of substantially umbrella' shape and a steam inletdeliveringV steam beneath the umbrella shaped baffle within the umbrellashaped sheet.

HENRY E. BYER.

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